Walker calls for cuts or big layoffs

Walker calls for cuts or big layoffs - JSOnline
"Gov. Scott Walker said Friday that thousands of state workers would be laid off if the Legislature does not adopt his budget fix that cuts public worker benefits and takes away almost all union bargaining rights from public workers.
A Walker aide confirmed that the benefit reductions would cost the average state worker thousands of dollars a year, or roughly 8% of his or her salary.
Walker also signaled that in a larger budget plan coming later this month he would trim aid to municipalities and let local officials deal with those cuts at least in part through savings on public employee costs."

Speaking at a Capitol news conference, the governor also said the National Guard is ready to take control of state prisons if correctional officers illegally strike or obstruct work.
Union officials said they had no such plans.

But he said the state had no money or time to bargain with unions over the benefits changes.

"I don't have anything to negotiate," Walker said.
"We are broke in this state.
We have been broke for years.
People have ignored that for years, and it's about time somebody stood up and told the truth.
The truth is: We don't have money to offer.
We don't have finances to offer.
This is what we have to offer."